SONIC TEETH-CLEANING APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 3,760,799 A
• Filed: 03/02/1972
• Issued: 09/25/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David Lamar Crowson
• Original Assignee: David Lamar Crowson
• Inventors: Crowson, David Lamar
• Primary Examiner(s): Trapp, Lawrence
• Application Number:
  US05/231,100
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 128/62A,65,66,24A 32/DIG.4
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/20 using ultrasonics

Abstract

Apparatus for cleaning teeth with liquid dentifrice, optionally mixed with dental-disease-inhibiting agents, comprising: a transducer of a size and nature adapted to be held in the mouth for producing ultrasonic (or subsonic) vibrations in the mouthinclosed liquid; a handle attached to the transducer; a circuit leading to the transducer, including an electric oscillator, an optional automatic time control, a switch actuator (optionally a pushbutton), and an electric cord that goes thru the handle. The portion of the transducer assembly that fits between the lips is sufficiently small in vertical thickness to allow the lips to seal around this portion against escape of the dental solution. The invention includes a simple and efficient method of cleaning teeth comprising filling the mouth with liquid dentifrice and sonically (ultrasonically or subsonically) agitating and circulating the liquid into all areas of the mouth.

Claims

1. Teeth-cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a transducer assembly for transforming electrical pulses into sonic vibrations, adapted for insertion into the space between the roof and tongue of the mouth of a user and into mouth-held dentifrice placed in the mouth before said insertion, including;

a transducer;

a transducer sheath comprising waterproof and electrically-insulating material around the transducer, having a vertical thickness that is less than the distance between the roof and the tongue of the closed mouth of the user and a horizontal width that is less than the horizontal span between jaw teeth of any prospective user; and

a transducer-assembly neck, comprising waterproof material, the said neck having a vertical thickness that is less than that of said transducer sheath and sufficiently small to permit sealing of the lips around the neck against escape of dentifrice from the mouth;

a handle, rigidly connected to said neck, adapted to be manually held outside the mouth; and

an electrical circuit, connected to said transducer, including;

an electrical oscillator, for producing electrical pulses;

electricity-conducting means, comprising conductors connected to said oscillator, extending thru the said handle and thru said neck, and connected to said transducer;

currenttransmitting connecting means, connected to said oscillator and adapted to be connected to a source of electric current; and

switching means for opening and closing the circuit.

2. inserting an electrically connected sonic transducer into space between the roof and tongue in the mouth, and thus into the dentifrice;

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said switching means comprises time-control means for automatically opening the said circuit on expiration of a desired teeth-cleaning period.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said switching means comprises a manually operable switch on said handle.

5. stopping the electrical pulses;

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said waterproof material of the sheath and the waterproof material of said neck are integral, and comprise plastic.

7. A method of cleaning teeth, comprising:

8. A method as set forth in claim 7, in which step (4) comprises the production of ultrasonic vibrations in the mouth and dentifrice.